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Collage of Melodies Edifício Escolar by Xiaoyi Ma

Collage of Melodies Edifício Escolar by Xiaoyi Ma is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 A' Design Award de Prata in Design de Arquitetura, Edifícios e Estruturas Competition Category.


PrataArquitetura· 2021

Collage of Melodies Edifício Escolar

by Xiaoyi Ma

Client: Inclusive Architectural Practice

A' Design Award de Prata Winner in Arquitetura Category

Colors

The Design

About Collage of Melodies Edifício Escolar

Collage of Melodies é a ampliação e reforma de uma escola internacional em Pequim. O projeto abriga cinco comunidades de aprendizagem, incluindo uma comunidade de educação infantil, um centro de artes, uma biblioteca, um centro de design e um centro de artes cênicas. Cada comunidade é tratada como um espaço distinto dentro da estrutura do edifício existente. O edifício da ampliação percorre o terreno em curva e é revestido com painéis de resina com folheado de madeira natural e painéis Trespa coloridos. Os brise-soleils verticais reduzem o excesso de luz solar e o consumo de energia. Seus ângulos foram dispostos por meio de um software com base em uma peça musical.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award de Prata

Collage of Melodies Edifício Escolar conquistou o A' Design Award de Prata, um reconhecimento extraordinariamente prestigiado atribuído a designs de topo de gama, deslumbrantes e impressionantes. Os vencedores da Prata são obras tremendamente brilhantes e extremamente criativas que ilustram a perícia, o talento e a acuidade excecionais dos seus designers. Espera-se que Collage of Melodies Edifício Escolar seja uma obra maravilhosa e de referência, notavelmente profissional e profundamente inovadora. Este design vencedor do A' Design Award de Prata é uma invenção muito notável e admirada, que beneficia e faz avançar as fronteiras da arte, da ciência, do design e da tecnologia. Collage of Melodies Edifício Escolar é uma criação imensamente invejada que desperta desejos, traz sentimentos positivos e faz nascer espanto e deslumbramento.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties
Collage of Melodies, a proactive architectural approach to expand and renovate the International School of Beijing, aims to motivate this leading K12 school to evolve to the cutting edge of learning environment. Enclosing variety of learning communities adaptable to student ages and learning programs, the expansion counterbalances and transforms the over-unified, solemn institution building to a versatile, dynamic education architecture with refreshing Collage of Art and Music Melodies.
Dimensions & Packaging
Site Area: 133,333 m2
Existing Building Area: 54,087 m2
Expansion Building Area: 11,079 Square m2
Architectural & Interior Design Area: 16636 m2
Building Height: 24 m
School including: Early Year 3 through Grade 12
Tags
K12, Education, International School of Beijing, Renovation, Collage, Musical
Production Technology
The vertical sunshades of building enclosure are composed of natural wood-veneer resin panels and colorful Trespa panels to block out excessive sunlight and reduce energy consumption. The seemingly random angles of sunshades are compiled using software based on a piece of music, while the mixed colors are imagined as liquid paint dripping on the wood facade by a mischievous young child.
Design Challenge
The cooperation with ISB is very pleasant, with our experience and the full communication with educators, the design scheme can be in good agreement educators most of the time. The biggest challenge we meet is that the cost exceeds the standard while each team wants the perfect building space. We try to choose low-cost but high-quality materials to achieve the expected effect. How to achieve the maximum value of the actual building with low cost is the biggest challenge we meet.
Research
The first international school established in Beijing, ISB is composed of 1,650 students from EY3 to G12 representing 50 countries. The existing building with over-unified spaces is unable to represent the diversity of students and learning programs that are critical to curriculum innovation. The designers, in collaboration with educators and administrators, have implemented a proactive architectural approach, Collage of Melodies, to transform it to the cutting edge of learning environment.
Inspiration
As most project area is related to visual and performing arts, the design is inspired by image collage and musical melodies, complementing each other. Collage of Melodies treats each small learning community as an image independent and distinct from the overall school and fills it into the existing building framework, superseding it with diversified interior spaces, while the expansion building serpentines with highly consistent colorful and wood cladded envelop, producing a musical duet.
Project Duration
The International School of Beijing (ISB) is located in Shunyi District of Beijing, China. The design was commenced in May 2017 followed by construction, lasting for a total duration of nearly three and half years. In September 2020, ISB moved its students and faculties into the newly expanded and renovated facility.
Operation Flow
The project consists of 5 learning communities including Early Learning Community, ES Arts Center, ES Library, MS/HS Design Center and MS/HS Performing Arts Center, each represented by different educators and students, with whom the design team worked closely to establish design strategies together. The collaboration was successful in methods of questionnaires, focus group discussion, design charette, and etc. The designer even worked with kindergarteners to observe their feedbacks.
Team Members
Xiaoyi Ma
Jiajia Wang
Pengfei Chen
Yan Xia
Yang Ming
Xuejiao Zhou
Chaoyi Meng
Weihui Yan
Renzheng Zhu
Jing Wang
Xiaoang Li
Xuan Zhang
Haining Gu
Jing Zhu
Jiayi Wu
Yajuan Li
Yue Zhao
Min Shao
Image Credits
Zhi Xia

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